Lighting means for instrument panels



May 1, 1928.

J. zuBATY LIGHTING MEANS Fok INSTRUMENT `PANELS Tileduroh 22, 192e b 2 sheets-sneer 1 Y v UW May 1, 192s.

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Patented May l, 19,28.

a UNITED oSTATES 1,668,522 PATENT oFEicE.

JOSEPH ZUBATY, OF FLINT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO A C SPARK PLUG COMPANY, OF FLINT,' MICHIGAN, A COMPANY 0F IWIICHIIViaAN.`

LIGHTING .Manns Eon INSTRUMENT PANELS.

.Application meanarqh 22, 192e. serial No. 90,664.

Instrument boards for `automobiles are now commonly lighted by a shielded light source usually mounted on the board and projecting its rays directly upon the faces ofthe'instruments. Most ofthe rays strike surfaces which are poor reiectors or good diifusers so that the relectedbeams are of low intensit and cause the driver'no dis-n comfort. owever, some of the rays strike l@ highly ecient reflecting surfaces, such as the nickel platedparts of the instrument mountings and control fittings, and the glass covers of the instruments and are throivn into the drivers eyes either directly or inl directly as'bysrereection in the windshield glass. These ra s are of suiicient intensity' to produce the e ect of glare thereby impairing the vision of the driver and producing eye strain. Under such circumstancesdriving is customarily done with the instrument board unlighted thus reducing the strain but affording the driver no opportunity to in'- spect the speedometer, oil'g'age, ammeter, and other instruments requiring occasional observation. A

\ t In an edort to overcome the diiiiculties inherent in such asystem various methods of indirectly lighting the inst ents have' been resorted, to. These methods usually strument dial to the rear of the usual cover so that the only reflectin surface which vis eifectively lighted is the ial itself and this surface is 'of such character as to diffuse the lightso that the rays reaching4 the drivers eye are of such low intensity as to be unobjectionable. These .systems of lighting possess the fault that usually no provision is made for the lightinff of the drivers' compartment and particularly for the illumina tion of thetransrnission lock, and the various controls mounted upon or adjacent thel instrument panel. To overcome` this defect it has frequentlyl been found necessary to installan additional light upon the dash.

The object of the present invention` is to provide a lighting means which by a simple manipulation may serve to illuminate either the instruments alone or the instruments as well asthe adjacent ortions of. the instrument panel and rivers compartment. This means consists preferably of yalsingle light source arranged so that itslightv may be directed either indirectly upon the instru- 'ments .or .directly upon the faceof the panel.o

involve the projection of light upon the in- 'that shown and described in my In itssimplest form the invention consists of a light .source which is adapted. to be shifted to either of two positions to eifect the described variation vin light distribution.

With this arrangement-itis apparent that secure the advantages of the two systems of l lighting above described without appreciable complication over othe lighting arrangements now customarily provided. i

In the drawin s:

Figure 1 isa fragmentary viewof a por tion of an instrument panel showing my im-` proved lighting means applied thereto. v

Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the panel of Figure 1, the lighting device and one of the instruments being shown in elevation.` In this view the lighting means is arranged for the indirect lightinvof the instruments.

igure 3 is a view coresponding to Figure 2 but with the -lighting means arranged for the direct illumination of the instrument boardv as Well as the drivers compartment.

Figure 4 is' a sectional view through the lighting device.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modification in two diiferent positions of adjustment.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7--7 of Figure 6.

The n reference character 2 indicates an instrument anel of any desired construction upon w ich are mounted the usual instruments such as the gauges 4, and the speedometer 6. yThe casm s for these instrumentslare provided wit openings 8 of 00 transparent material, f such as p ralin, through which the light may enter or the illumination of the usual dials located to the rear Iof the glass cover 12 and `face plate 14; indicated in Figure 1. In' this respect the construction is substantially thesame as Nprior applicationSer. No. 47,058, filed IJuly 30, 1925. As in that case portions ofthe interior of the instrument yc'asings, and particularly 'the 100 rear face of the face plate 14, are painted white so that the reilected` 1i ht which finally reaches the dials is of su cient intensity. While I have indicated one specic construe tion of instrument board assemblv in which 105 pipvision is made for applying light to the instrlnnents alone7 it is obvious that various other arrangements may be used Vfor the same purpose. lighting device is numbered 16. It consists oa guide 18 in the l form of a cylinder shown as clamped or swaged in opening in. the instrument panel 2. Within this guide is mounted a casing 24 and within the casing 24 is mounted a lightsource 26 consisting of the usual incandescent lamp bulb. The bulb is shown as held in position by means of a threaded collar 28 engaging internal threads formed on the casing 24 but any other' suitable means may be used for securing the lamp in position. The casing 24 is provided with an o ening 30 which, in the adjustment of parts s own in Figures 2 and 4, registers with opening 31 in guide 18. Through these alined openings light from the lamp 26 is projected andthe interior ot the casing is preferably provided with a good reiiecting surface. The outer end of the casing is preferably provided with a threaded aperture 32 for receiving the stem of a closure 34 which serves as a manipulating means for shifting the casing and lam when desired. 'Ihe part 34 may, if desire be formed of translucent material.

rIhe guide 18 is provided with a stop 40 engaging in a slot `42 in the casing 24 and serving to limit outward movement of the casing. Closure 34 limits `its inward movemeint.A

Figures 2 and 3 clearly show the operation of the device. With thek casing 24 and its contained bulb in the position shown in Figure 2, the greater proportion of the light from the bulb is directed through the apertures 8 in the instrument casings where a Vportion of it eventually reaches the dials and serves for their illumination. rIhere is, however, some slight general illumination of the adjacent parts of the car.

Figure 3 shows the casing drawn to its outermost position where the light from the blub is directed upon the instrument board as well as the drivers compartment. With i the lighting device in this position the other parte such as the transmission lock, caruretor controls, and switches are effectively illuminated. When the part 34 is made of translucent material it serves tomark the position of the lighting means so that the latter can be readily located for manipulation when the casing is in its innermost position.

In the modication shown in Figures 5 to 7, the light source 26 is stationary and a movable reflector is provided. Thus the light source is mounted in a cylindrical member 52 fixed to the-instrument panel and provided with slot 54 through which light 1s projected upon the instruments as in the first form. Within the member 52 is slidably mounted a reiiecting device 56. This device comprises a cylindrical 'member 58 guided for sliding movement in member 52 and having slot 59 for registration with slot 54. The outer end of the member 58 is position shown in Figure 6 while a portion of the light is projected upon the instruments at the rear of the panel, a portion is also directed by reflector 62 upon the face of the instrument panel and upon surrounding objects. It is apparent that by varying the size of the reiiector and of the opening in the casing 52, and by varying the position of the light source, the light may be divided between the face of the panel and the'instrument dials as desired.

I claim:

l. The combination with a supporting panel, of a source of light mounted adjacent said panel, a reflector movably mounted adjacent said panel, said reector being adjustable to project the light from said source va light emitting opening slidably engaged in said guide and adapted to be adjusted to position said light emitting opening 'on either side of said panel as desired said guide being provided with an opening for registration with the opening in. the reiector in the nested position of the latter.

4. In the combination as defined in claim 3, a light source mounted in said reflector for movement therewith.

5. In the combination of an instrument panel, a casing slidably mounted in said panel, a light mounted in said casing, said casing being arranged in one position for the projection of light at the rear of the panel and in another position for the projection of li ht in front of the panel, the outer end o said casing being formed of -translucent material.

6. The combination of a supporting panel, a light directing means adjustably mounted in said panel so as to project light on either i yaide thereof as desired, said light directing,

passasse means being provided with a translucent portion arranged to be visible from one side of said panel in either-.position of adjustment. l e 7. The combination with an instrument panel, of an instrument thereon yhaving a dial, a cover for the instrument permittlng inspection of the diaf, said instrument being apertured topermit the projection of-light upon its dial at the rear of said cover, and

a light directing means adjustably mounted adjacent the dial and adapted to project light upon ,said dial either to the rear of said cover or throu h said cover. j

8. The com ination of @an instrument panel, a plurality of instruments mounted on the panel and provided with assages opening at the rear of the panel or the projection of li ht upon the dials of the instruments, a ight source mounted at the rear of said panel, and a reflector slidably mounted in the panel and arranged to be adjusted outwardl to direct aportion of the light from sai the panel.

9. The 'combination With an instrument panel of an instrument mounted thereon,

said instrument having a dial and a casing provided with an aperture for the inspection of the dial and With a seconda erture j .said instrument having a dial andl a casing provided with an aperture for the inspection of the dial and with a second aperture for, the projection of light upon the dial from the rear of the panel, and a light source slidably mounted in the panel and `adapted to be -extended outwardly of the panel tov project its light upon the panel and surrounding ob'ects orV to be positioned rear- Wardly of t e panel to project light thru said second-named aperture. 11. The combination with said instrument having a dial and a casing source upon the face of an instrument panel of an instrument mounted thereon,

provided with'an aperture for the inspection' of the dial and with;a second aperture for the projection of lig t upon the dial from the rear of the pane a sourceof light, and means for projecting light :from said source thru one orboth of said apertures.

12. The combinationof apanel, an instrument mounted on the panel, a source oi light at the rear vof the panel, said panel being provided with an o ening and a closure for the opening, sai closure when in open osition permitting the passage of light orwardly of the panel. I

13. In the combination as defined inclaim 12, said closure having the side toward the i lfight source provided with a reflecting surace.

14. In the comnbination as defined in claiin 12, said instrument being provided with a casing having an aperturev at the rear of the panel forthe passage of the light to'the instrument dial. A

15. In an automobile, the combination of an instrument panel having an instrument in which light lis projected on the face of the instrument or to an inner position in light slidably mounted in the aperture and apted for adjustment to an outer position 'l which light is projected at'fthe rear of the panel.

as desired, said carrier being provided with' means for closing .said aperture when in either of said positions.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

' JOSEPH ZUBATY.

In an automobile, the combination ofv 'an instrument panel having an aperture 

